Ghanaian football legend Michael Essien has made a surprising statement, saying that if he had to choose, he would pick Thomas Partey over himself at their best playing years.
Essien, who played for Ghana in the 2006 and 2014 World Cups held in Germany and Brazil, is considered one of the country’s greatest footballers.
During his career, he achieved major success with Chelsea, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.
Speaking in an interview with Sporty FM, Essien praised Partey’s outstanding skills and admitted that he would prefer the Arsenal midfielder over himself in his prime.
“Between myself and Thomas Partey in our primes, I don’t think I would pick myself. I would go for Partey. He is a fantastic midfielder, you know,” Essien stated.
“I will never put myself ahead of Thomas Partey. It is two different generations, so I will put Partey ahead. He is that guy I love and I speak to him now and then,” he added.
Thomas Partey started his professional football journey with Atlético Madrid in 2015 and soon established himself as one of the top defensive midfielders of his time. During his spell at the club, he won major trophies, including La Liga, the UEFA Europa League, and the UEFA Super Cup.
His outstanding performances earned him a €50 million transfer to Arsenal in 2020.
Since joining the English club, the 31-year-old has been an important part of the team, playing over 100 Premier League matches and helping them win the FA Community Shield.